It Started With A Kiss

Disclaimer: See Prologue.


A/N: I would like to give a special THANKS to takemeaway for not only being my sounding board while writing this chapter. I also want to give her a big HUG for being quite the little beta!!!!

For all my reviewers wanting to know WHEN I’m updating you can keep track by visiting my LJ page, the address is on my author bio here at AFF. More notes at the bottom of this chapter. Happy Reading!


Chapter 6


Hermione saw a hint of the emotions in Severus’ eyes, as a tear started to trail down her face. She felt his calloused finger wipe it from her face. A look of confusion and concern washed over his face, he didn’t want to be the cause of her unhappiness, but he feared he might be.

“What is wrong, why the tears? Is it something I did, or your parents?” his voice flowing over her like a warm blanket.

“It’s a bit of both. I’m sad because of what my parents said, it hurt to have them turn on me like that…and then your words, no one has ever told me I’m beautiful. Smart, scary, bookworm, among others; but never beautiful.”

She brought her hand up and softly caressed his cheek, “Thank you Severus.” Reaching up she kissed his lips so gently it felt to him like a small warm breeze flitted across them sending a tingling sensation down his spine.

Severus’ hand moved softly along her jaw making its way to the back of her neck. He brought her closer to him, returning her kiss passionately.

Hermione’s arms snaked around his neck in response, not wanting him to stop this kiss just yet. Severus wrapped his other arm around her waist drawing her body flush with his. A small purring sound emanated from her as she tried to get even closer to him, his kisses were creating reactions within her that she never felt before. A strange sensation originated from between her thighs, and she was instinctively aware that Severus was the cause and cure for this need he was creating within her. This was something she definitely wanted to explore more.

Her responses were leading Severus’ body and mind to places best left unvisited for now. He did not want to take this too far, and especially not out in the open like they were. He hesitantly parted his lips from hers. Looking into her eyes he could see a want, a need, it pleased him to know he was the cause. “As enjoyable as this is, we should get back to the castle. Curfew will be soon and I have rounds I must do.”

“Yes, you’re right. I have homework to finish for tomorrow,” A sigh escaped her as she released his neck, trailing her hands down to his chest. “and enjoyable, doesn’t even begin to cover how amazing that was.” Taking a step away from him she took his arm as they continued their trek back to the castle.

He escorted Hermione to Gryffindor Tower, and at the portrait of the Fat Lady he took her hand, bowed and laid a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Good night, my dear.”

“Good night, Severus.” Giving the password she went through entering the common room. She found Ron and Harry sitting at their usual spot near the fireplace playing a game of Wizard‘s Chess. It appeared as though Ron was winning as usual.

“Hey ‘Mione, where have been?” Harry asked.

“I went with Professor Snape to see my parents and tell them about my upcoming wedding.”

“How did they take it?” Ron inquired.

“Well, lets just say I don’t think I’ll be seeing them for quite awhile. They were not happy to say the least. Severus stepped between my father and I to keep him from hitting me.” She told the boys.

“Your father tried to hit you,” Harry said his eyes about popping out of his head, “and Snape stopped him???”

“What did Snape do to him?” asked Ron.

“‘Professor’ Snape cast an ‘Impedimenta’ on him. My Mum went ballistic. She started attacking him. To make a long story short boys, my mother told me if I left I was not to come back home again.”

“Wow, that’s rough Hermione. Sorry your parents took it so hard,” Ron said.

“I can’t say I blame them. Though I’m surprised the sarcastic git didn’t do worse to your father just for being Muggle.” Harry said.

“Enough, Harry. I’ve had a long day and I’m not getting into this again with you. Good night to you both.” Turning around she went up the stairs to her rooms hoping her dreams would be of Severus and his kisses.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next day while in Transfiguration class, learning to change a matchstick into an ornate box, Professor McGonagall came up to Hermione’s desk.

“Miss Granger, I would like to speak with you after class,” she asked warmly.

“Yes, Professor.” Hermione replied, wondering what this could be about.

After the rest of the class had left Hermione made her way to Professor McGonagall’s desk. “Come with me to my office Miss Granger.” She said.

They entered through a side door. She offered Hermione a seat in a small area with two comfortable chairs and table just large enough to serve tea.

“Tea, Miss Granger?”

“Yes, thank you Professor.”

Professor McGonagall clapped her hands once and a pot of hot tea appeared, along with a small plate of biscuits. After pouring their tea Professor McGonagall sat back in her chair, cup in hand, looking at Hermione.

“Miss Granger, er…Hermione….the Headmaster has made the staff aware of the ‘situation’ in which you and Severus find yourselves in. I spoke with Professor Dumbledore earlier today; the ceremony that is called for is rather elaborate, and both he and I will be performing the ritual.” Taking a sip of her tea she continued, “I have a copy of the ritual for you to read.” She handed Hermione a rolled up scroll that appeared to be long. “We don’t expect you to memorize the entire thing, and we will both assist you with it along the way. Now with that said, I would like to offer my help with your preparations. A trip to Diagon Alley is definitely in order. Is Saturday about 9 in the morning good for you? We should get an early start.”

“I suppose so, Professor. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I will have to stop at Gringotts and see what funds I have left. How much do you think everything will cost? My parents….”

“I heard about your ‘parents’ Hermione. I’m so sorry about their reaction to all this.” McGonagall interrupted.

“I know I’m hardly a substitute for your mother, but it would please me greatly if you would allow me to purchase what you require.”

“Thank you, Professor, but I couldn’t allow…” Hermione started to speak as her felt her face turn red from embarrassment.

“Nonsense, I have more then enough funds to cover the expense. Quite frankly my dear, I never had a daughter to do this for. Please allow me to do this for you. It would bring joy to this old woman’s heart.” She said giving Hermione a wry smile.

Seeing the look of hope on the older woman’s face, Hermione felt her resistance melt away.

“Thank you, Professor. I do wish my Mum was here to do this with me, but I couldn’t ask for a better surrogate.” Hermione wanted to hug her Professor, especially when she saw the smile on her face and the tears forming, but not quite falling, in her eyes. She was not quite sure the normally reserved woman would welcome the gesture.

Patting away the tears with her handkerchief, McGonagall cleared her throat. “Well, now that that is settled let’s finish this wonderful tea.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The rest of her week went as it usually does; classes, homework, and studying. What made it different was the time spent with Severus. His classroom persona was so different to how he was in private; a very pleasant surprise. Most evenings they spent talking about a vast array of topics and of course sharing more of those wonderful kisses. They had met again with Professor Dumbledore to discuss the ceremony, and Hermione was going to have to find two females to participate in the ritual…that she was having trouble with. Ginny was a definite possibility, but who else? Maybe Lavender or Parvati…in times like this one she wished she had more girlfriends.

The hardest part of her week was when Dumbledore announced that she and Severus would be married. Between Snape scowling at the entire school and the looks she was receiving from her classmates, coupled with the whispering when she was around, made the rest of her week truly miserable.

One Ravenclaw boy, a sixth year, who was talking to a group of other students, said loud enough for Hermione to hear, “Now we know how Granger got such good grades in potions. Not that anyone else would want to shag Snape.”

Just as she was about to retort, a very familiar voice spoke.

“Mr. Somners, perhaps if you paid as much attention to your studies as you do to Miss Field’s anatomy, your grades in ALL your classes would improve. It seems the Sorting Hat made a mistake putting you in Ravenclaw, since that house is known for what you apparently lack, intelligence.”

Somners paled as the Potions master’s biting remarks.

“S..s..s..sorry Sir.” He stammered.

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to, you dunderhead.” Snape said icily. “You cast my fiancé in a disparaging light, and I will not allow it. Do you understand me, Mr. Somners?”

“Ye…ye..yes Sir.”

“Now since it is not I you must apologize to can you take a guess as to whom it might be?”

“Sorry, Miss Granger.” Somners said in a not to convincing voice.

“Much better.” Snape said. “You will be serving detention for the next 5 days after dinner with Mr. Filch, along with the rest of your fellow students who seem to think they have the right to gossip about Miss Granger and myself.”

“Oh and Mr. Somners? Ten points from Ravenclaw for accusing the Head Girl of cavorting with a faculty member.” Snape offered her his arm and escorted her the rest of the way to the library.

By the time Saturday rolled around Hermione couldn’t wait to get out of the school for a while. She woke up at 7 a.m. took a shower and pulled her hair up on her head. She decided to dress in Muggle jeans, jumper and her trainers so she’d be comfortable, and take her cloak to throw on over herself. She had a small breakfast in the Great Hall and then waited in the Entrance Hall for Professor McGonagall.

At precisely 9 a.m. Professor McGonagall appeared. “All set to go Miss Granger?” she asked as she opened the door and stepped out on to Hogwarts grounds. “We will go to The Three Broomsticks and floo to the Leaky Cauldron from there. Then on to Diagon Alley!” She said happily a bounce in her step Hermione hadn’t noticed before.

Their first stop was Madam Malkin’s Robes for all Occasions.

“Minerva, how wonderful to see you. What brings you here today?” Madam Malkin asked.

“Good to you see you too, Maris. We are here for wedding robes and ALL the accessories.”

“Ohhh, Minerva, you’re getting married?” asked the excited shopkeeper.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course it’s not me. Miss Granger here is the lucky bride to be.”

Madam Malkin’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline and her jaw dropped to the floor. “B-b-b-but she’s a student! How could Albus allow….”

“There are extenuating circumstances of which I am not at liberty to speak…and no, Maris, she is NOT pregnant so don’t even think about spreading gossip about this. Now about those robes.” McGonagall said, sternly.

The next two hours became Hermione’s worst nightmare. She tried on so many different robes that she was ready to get married in her jeans and call it a day. What she thought just fine, neither Madam Malkin nor the professor agreed. Just as it seemed all hope was lost, Madam Malkin came out with the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

“This dress came in the other day, it’s not one I ordered and I was going to send it back. It is beautiful though isn’t it.”

“It’s perfect!” Hermione and the professor said in unison.

The dress was white silk with gold and ivory brocade trim with sleeves that became sheer half-way down the mid-upper arm and belled out to just cover her hands. The front of the bodice had gold lacing up the front, with a squared neckline that came down just low enough to show a hint of cleavage. The skirt fell perfectly from her waist to the floor like a silk waterfall. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Hermione felt like a princess in a Muggle fairy tale.

“I think we have found ‘the dress’ my dear. What do you think?” asked McGonagall. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

“It’s perfect on you…almost like it was made for you alone.”

Hermione nodded. “Yes Professor McGonagall, it’s….”

“Please Hermione, call me Minerva when we are not at school or we are alone.” She requested.

“Yes, Minerva, it is indeed perfect. I don’t know how to thank you for all this,” Hermione said eyeing the older witch in the mirror.

“No thanks is needed. You allowing me this opportunity to play ‘mother of the bride’ is thanks enough,” Minerva said.

“Alright then, now that we have the dress, Maris, we’ll need a cloak to go with it.”

Hermione moaned. Oh Gods here we go again, she thought to herself. Fortunately it didn’t take as long to find the perfect cloak to go with the perfect dress. A white silk velvet, lined with white silk satin cloak with a hood was chosen. It too, was embroidered with gold and ivory trimming; an ideal match to compliment the dress. Matching shoes was the easy part, Madam Malkin just waved her wand at a plain pair and transfigured them. Hermione was a bit shocked when she learned she would be required to go sans knickers and bra though.

“It’s traditional dear. You go into your marriage hiding nothing.” Madam Malkin explained.

At least, Hermione thought not everyone there would see what she was ‘not hiding’. Though the thought of Severus seeing her in the all together afterwards made her blush. She really didn’t want to think about that now.

“The dress is charmed dear, it will hold ‘up’ what you have.” Madam Malkin assured her.

“We need one last thing…binding cords.”

“What type of ceremony is being performed Minerva?”

“The Elementum Cognationis Nuptiae.” McGonagall told the shop’s proprietor who promptly turned as white as Hermione’s dress.

”Minerva, that ritual hasn’t been performed in over a…”

“Yes, Maris I am well aware of when it was last performed. We’ll need 3 plain cords please. Then you can total all this up and please have everything delivered to Hogwarts.” McGonagall said cutting off the shocked witch who was now staring at Hermione.

When Madam Malkin added up the total of the dress, cloak, shoes and cords, it was Hermione’s turn to be shocked.

“The total comes to 275 galleons, Minerva.”

The professor took her wand and touched it to the receipt. It glowed blue, showing that the funds were transferred from her vault to Madam Malkin’s.

“Thank you for all your help today, Maris.”

“It was my pleasure, Minerva. Good luck to you Miss Granger. By the way, you never said who the groom is.”

“Professor Snape.” Answered Hermione.

They left the shop were once again Madam Malkin stood in shock.

“Let’s go choose your ring for Severus, and then we’ll go to lunch.” Minerva said, heading further down Diagon Alley to a store Hermione had never seen before.

Funkle's Jewelry was an elegant and expensive shop, but Minerva was adamant on Hermione buying the ring there, so she agreed.

Mr. Funkle himself was a short man with expertly groomed grey hair and expensive-looking, unobtrusive glasses. He greeted Minerva like an old friend, and Hermione soon realized that the two actually were old friends.

"Minerva McGonagall! What can I do for you? It's been a long time," said Mr. Funkle in a low, pleasant voice "and you've brought someone, too."

"Yes, William, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, an old friend of my family, William Funkle."

“Pleasure to meet you, sir” Hermione said shaking his hand.

“Pleased to meet you as well. So, what brings you ladies to my humble shop this fine day?”

“Miss Granger is in need of a wedding band. Her intended is a Potions master, William so I think platinum would be appropriate.” Minerva told the man.

“Ah, congratulations, Miss Granger. Platinum then,” he said taking a tray out of the display case and placing it front of them, “why don’t you ladies take a look at these while I go in the back. I have a ring I just finished today, it may just be the one you are looking for.” He said heading off to the back of his shop.

She looked at the rings he had placed in front of them. Nothing really caught her eye as right for Severus. A few minutes later Mr. Funkle came back with a small box in his hand.

“I started working on this piece yesterday. I’m not sure what compelled me, but I just felt it ‘had’ to be done.” He opened the small ring box and within was a platinum band with what appeared to be runic engravings. Hermione took the ring out of the box and examined it. All around the band were the same Laguz and Algiz runes that were ‘tattooed’ on their hands.

“Severus was in here earlier today, and he purchased the mate to this one,” he told Minerva in a low voice.

“I think this is the one, Minerva.” Hermione said holding the ring between her fingers.

“Well, William looks like you made a sale. Please wrap it up and charge it to my account at Gringotts.”

After leaving the jewelers with their purchase safely tucked into the pocket of Hermione’s cloak the professor suggested lunch. They entered the Leaky Cauldron and took a seat at a booth. Ordering a light meal of soup, salad and bread a Butterbeer for Hermione and tea for Minerva. As they waited for their orders they chatted about their day so far.

“I can’t believe how the ‘perfect’ everything just seemed to fall into our laps, so to speak,” said Hermione.

“Well it does happen now and again. Luck was on our side,” said Minerva. Though she knew luck had nothing to do with it, she saw no reason to cause apprehension in the young woman in front of her.

“This ring though; I don’t believe ‘luck’ had anything to do with that. It seems more than coincidence that the runes engraved in it match the ones Severus and I bear.”

“Mmmm yes, I agree,” said Minerva, “perhaps it’s a sign that the Gods give their blessing to this union.”

“Have you decided who to ask participate in the ritual, Dear? You do need two female friends to keep the balance of male and female.”

“Well I think I’m going to ask Ginny to be one. I don’t know who else to ask. I suppose I could ask Lavender or Parvati, but….”

“Yes I know what you mean. Have you considered some other female, maybe someone in the Order?”

“I hadn’t really considered that….Ohhhh, I know who I could ask: TONKS!”

Minerva gave her student a smile. She thought Nymphadora would be thrilled. “Good choice my dear. Perhaps you should owl her when we get back to the school and see if she’ll be available.”

The waiter brought their orders and the two ate and talked about other things; school, books, plans Hermione had for her future education. An hour later, they were back in Diagon Alley, this time heading to a Florist. “You need to choose four flowers, leaves, or herbs that represent Severus to you, and then you need to fashion them into a boutonnière for Severus to wear on his robes.” Minerva explained to her as they entered the shop. After talking to the sales witch she led them to an area off to the side of the shop. Laid out before her was a multitude of flowers, herbs, leaves and squares of wood from various trees for her to choose from.

“Take your time dear, think about what it is you admire most about Severus and you will be guided to the proper choices.” Minerva said as she stepped back from the young witch.

Hermione stood at the large table, closed her eyes and thought about what she liked most about Severus. She reached out and picked up a variegated tulip and put it in front of her. Next she took an oak leaf, then a long vine of ivy and last a square of cedar. “I’m finished.” She said.

“Let me see what you have there.” Minerva said looking at Hermione choices.

“Variegated tulip – beautiful eyes. Yes, Severus does have beautiful eyes. Oak leaf – bravery. That he is my dear. Ivy – fidelity. No doubt he is and will be faithful to you. Cedar – strength. Indeed, Severus is powerful and strong. We will take these.” She told the clerk. “When we get back to Hogwarts you’ll need to fashion a boutonnière from them and place a preservation charm on it.”

“Severus will be making a wreath for your hair choosing what to use much as you did here.” She told Hermione. “I’m interested in what he sees in you,” she grinned at the young woman in front of her.

“I am too. I wonder how he sees me.” She said.

“Now that we are done with shopping for your wedding, how about we go back to Hogsmeade and slip into the bookstore for a bit?” A mischievous gleam came to the older witches eyes.

Smiling back at her, Hermione wholeheartedly agreed!

A/N: To all my fantastic reviewers: Skullduggery, Donavon, lady-isowen, Queen Celestia and anyone I may have missed a big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.


Amethystique: Thank you for the chocolate dear, it helped with writing this chapter when I got stuck several times and takemeaway wasn’t available to bounce ideas off of.

Mariteri: I didn’t’ realize I was doing that as I was writing. More so I was surprised my Beta didn’t catch it, but we are all only human. I hope I’ve been more cautious in this chapter and haven’t made the same mistake over and over again. My Pet Peeve is by the way, waste and waist (drives me batty). Thank you for pointing out my boo boo it’s appreciated.

Links to the site where you can see the dress and cloak.
http://www.twinrosedesign.com/futurefantasy.html
http://www.twinrosedesign.com/cloaksforsale.html

The next chapter will be the Wedding! It may end up being in two parts and I want it to be just right.